Drug-facilitated, Incapacitated, and Forcible Rape

Submitted by Editor on Mon, 03/01/2010 - 1:00am

A recent study funded by Department of Justice estimates that 673,000 of nearly 6 million women (11.5%) currently attending American colleges have ever been raped, and over half-million are forcible rapes, and 375,000 are drug/alcohol-facilitated or incapacitated rape (DAFR/IR). Classmates, friends, and boyfriends made up over 50% of forcible rapes (vs. 28% in the general population sample) and about 70% of DAFR/IR rapes (vs. 50% in the general population sample). However, only 11.5% college rapes were reported to police, and victims of DAFR/IR were less likely to report to police than were victims of forcible rape. (7% vs 16%)

The study,"Drug-facilitated, Incapacitated, and Forcible Rape: A National Study", investigates three different types of rape cases: (a) force (i.e., forcible rape); (b) drugs, alcohol, or other intoxicants deliberately given to the victim by the perpetrator (i.e., drug-facilitated rape); or (c) self-induced intoxication by the victim (i.e., incapacitated rape), and provides information addressing four key goals:

To identify how many women in the U.S. and in college settings have ever been raped or sexually assaulted during their lifetime and within the past year.

To identify key case characteristics of drug-facilitated and forcible rapes, including the percentage of cases that involve injury, involve strangers vs. known perpetrators, are reported to law enforcement, involve receipt of medical care, and enter the criminal justice system.

To examine factors that affect the willingness of women to report rape to law enforcement or seek help from their support network.

To make comparisons between the different types of rape with regard to (a) the numbers of women affected in the U.S. and college settings, (b) risk factors, (c) reporting to law enforcement, and (d) mental health consequences.

The researchers interviewed 5,000 U.S. women aged 18-86. Of these, 3,001 comprised a national sample representing all U.S. women and 2,000 comprised a national sample representing women currently attending U.S. colleges and universities. Both samples contain the same 399 related variables.